Start Your Job On The Right Foot

Finding a job is like finding a woman: you think you found what you're looking for, but reality sets in sooner or later. If you seek job satisfaction and relationship fulfillment, then leave no questions unanswered.

approaching the company

With larger companies, you have little choice but to submit your resume and hope for the best. It is a widely accepted fact, however, that knowing someone in the right department goes a long way in securing an interview or position.

When it comes to joining a company you are familiar with, stay abreast of its development in order to pull the trigger and make the move when the moment is right.

Dr. Chester Karrass, widely considered the top negotiation guru according to most Fortune 500 companies, states that instead of getting what you deserve in life, you often get what you negotiate for. This is true, but you also need something to negotiate with .

The passive approach: play hard to get Life is a game of poker. If you show your cards too early, you leave the table empty-handed. Dr. Karrass argues that people make mistakes throughout negotiations because they are too eager to seal the deal. Even Hitler was able to expand at will prior to World War II because his counterparts were rushing to reach an agreement.

If time is on your side, it only makes sense to sit back, be patient and wait for the firm to up the ante. But this only applies at the higher levels, with experienced and accomplished individuals. This predicament can be a Catch-22 of sorts. On one hand, if your value will only rise to the surface once you are actually on the job, you'll need to get to work before making demands. On the other hand, if you offer more than what's expected once working, those tasks will eventually become part of your responsibilities.

The active approach: control your destiny The alternative strategy involves showing the firm's human resources department that you are more than a prima donna waiting to be wined and dined. Your ego may enjoy seeing people beg you to join their firm, but this is a bad long-term strategy.

First, you are setting their expectations way too high. Second, if you anticipate a retraction in the capital markets or an overall economic slowdown, it will serve you better to take initiative. Third, this takes the focus away from you and your benefits, and places the focus on the firm. Once the proposal is accepted, you can come on board, suggest ideas and see your plans come to fruition.